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Britney Campbell Makes Mid-State…Again!

December 16, 2007

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By DCHS Band Boosters

For the third year in a row, Britney Campbell, a freshman at DeKalb County High School, has been chosen to represent Middle Tennessee in its most prestigious musical ensemble, Tennessee’s Mid-State Band. On Saturday, December 8th, Britney traveled to McGavock High School in Nashville to audition for Mid-State, which selects its musicians from the Middle Tennessee area based on the students’ level of musical ability. At the junior high level, any 7th – 9th grade student in Middle Tennessee can audition. During the audition process, each student is tested in three general areas of musicianship. Students will be asked to perform a prepared piece of music, which is a song that has been rehearsed prior to the audition date. Students will also be required to demonstrate their ability in playing scales, a basic pattern of musical notes. They will also be tested on sight-reading skills, which displays the ability to perform a song without having to rehearse it.

Among the 200 clarinet players in grades seven through nine who auditioned for this event, Britney was ranked sixth. She will play in Mid-State’s elite band, the Gold Band, which represents the top musicians in the entire Middle Tenneessee area. The Silver Band is the second ranking band, followed by the 7th and 8th grade band, which is not open to freshmen.

In January 2008, all the students who made the Mid-State Bands will rehearse in Murfreesboro. Students will only have a couple of days to prepare for a concert, which will be held at Middle Tennessee State University. DeKalb County High School’s Band Director, Kristin Reagh, says, “It is a wonderful experience for all involved students because they get an opportunity to play with the most talented and motivated students from all over the middle Tennessee area.”

In addition to playing clarinet in the high school band, Britney also plays percussion in the DCHS Winter Drum Line. This ensemble is completely extracurricular, and meets twice a week in the band room to prepare for an indoor marching show to be performed in February 2008.

Britney is the daughter of Mike Campbell and Kimberly Cox of Smithville. Britney's dad says, "This is the third year in a row that she's made Mid-State and she's improved her position every year. I'm very proud of her. She works really hard for this every year.”